"These proposals could place a strain on communities across the UK that are already struggling to access the cash they need following mass bank closures.

"The financial regulator must intervene to avoid this situation getting worse."

Which? said it found a number of postcode areas that didn't appear to contain a single ATM, forcing customers travel to the next town or village to get out cash:

PE32 in Norfolk (population 15,300)

TA7 in Somerset (14,980)

TN27 in Kent (12,400)

NR16 in Norfolk (11,950)

In response, a spokesman for Link told The Sun Online that the proposed cut to the fees will be introduced over four years and it would stop the growth of cash machines in areas which already have lots of them.

He said: "The UK has one of the largest free-to-use ATM networks anywhere in the world, and the number of free ATMs is at an all-time high and rising.

"We welcome the research produced by Which? and will review all of the areas that it has identified and take action if there is inadequate free ATM provision.

"Link is always looking for ways to improve the network, and extend our Financial Inclusion Programme, which today subsidies ATMs in over 1,000 less affluent and rural communities."

More on money

UNIVERSAL STRUGGLE

Forget presents - we won't have food this Xmas due to Universal Credit